Lock slider for slide fasteners



APlZS, 194?-` N. J. Poux Lox SLIDER FOR SLIDE FAsTENEr-zs l Filed oct. 51," 1940 Noel i 6MM/Q' A TTo RNEY PatentedAprrZB, 1942I UNITEDSTATES s Loonsnman f Noel PATENT OFFICE N 231,009 t Foa sama rnsrsnnns Jrloux. Meadville, Ta., assignorto Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania 1 Application `october `:1, 1940, serial No. 303,708 "schuim` (01.24.2055) o invention relates to slide fasteners and,` in` particularl tothe provision of new and improved automatic, lock sliders therefor. 1

It is an object of this invention `to provide a new and improved automaticlock slider` for slide fasteners wherein the locking mechanism ,includes means automatically operative normally to en,-

gagethe leg end surfaces lof the interlocking fas-1 tener members ofl both fastener stringers nor..

muy to lock me slider against longitudinal movement thereon, in combination: with means conveniently` manually operable for rendering the first `means inoperative to free` the slider for movement iongitudinally `cfg` the stringers for opening `and closing the fastener.

Itis a further object of uns inventiamo provide `suoli a slider wherein the locking means is disposed substantially parallel tothe plane of the interlocking fastener members and wherein desirable compactness is securedbecause of the lincorporation of the locking meansin the sliderf` without substantial increase of the sliderthickness and without obstruction or interruption of the forward or frontsurfaceof the slider. l

It is a further Object of this invention to provide such a slider construction 'which is particularly adapted for ease of manufacture, cheaply, by` various known methods `of slider manufacture `from metallic materials and/or nonemetallic plastic materials.

These and `other objects and advantages ofthe invention will appear from `the following descrip- Vtiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying o drawing which forms apart thereof, `and will be `pointed out' in the appended claims. f

`Inithe`drawingzj o i. o V i Fig.,l is a fragmentary view, in perspectivelof a conventional slide fastener embodying an iml proved automatic lock sliderfaccording to thisinvention,` parts being cut awayinthe. interest of clearness of disclosure;

Fig. `2 is a longitudinal section taken substantiallyon the line 2`2 of Fig. 1; o 1` Fig, 3 isa perspective view of the locking meni` bei-of the slidershown in Fig.`l; o Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail viewillustrating the `front wing portion-of the slider body;

Fig; `5 is a view similar to `F.ig.j4. but showing` i the cap `member associated with the front portion shown iniFlg. 4 to house (the locking meansfof Fig. Sand themanually Operable slider unlocking means;

Fig.` `6 isa diagrammatic view showing the cooperative relationship of1 the `automatic locking` means and manually `operable slider unlocking upwardly diverging substantially means, the parts being shown in `unlocked posilfastener stringers connectedat theirlower fends by a bottom stop andhaving aslider constructed according to thisinvention, movable longitudinally of the Stringer` for, opening and closing the fastener.`

'rhe stringers are generauy designated` 10 andy each comprises a tape il witha reinforced edge I2 and with predeterminedly spaced rows of complementary interlocking fastener members I4 set cured in conventional manner to each reinforced edge I2. The bottom stop I5 is disposed `at the lower `ends of the rows of `interlocking ,fastener i members Il and secured to the tapes `Ii in con-1 ventional manner 'I'he slider is generally designated` il andcom-1 prises a. slider body, generally designated 'I 1, having therein a locking member `generally desig..`

Vnatedl which is` normally operative to secure the slider against movement longitudinally` of the saringers l lil` and which is rendered inoperative by manual movement of the unlocking member generally designated` I9,` which unlockingmember isoperatively associated therewith in a manner whiohwill be hereinafter" most fully explained. t

As., shown in Figs. 2, 4, `5jand (i,` the slider body comprises a` mainbody portion=20 formed` by a rear wing member 2| and a front wing portion 22 connected in spaced relationship `by a wedge or `neck portion 23, theback wing member 2l vand front wing portion 22 being provided with similar longitudinal side flanges 24 `and 24a 4at opposite sides `which form, `with the5exterior surfaces ofi the neck or wedge portion 23; an

tener-'member guide channel 25." o

The outer surface of the rear wing portion 2i is provided with a suitablegradually curvedfcon- `tour adapting it fbr sliding movement over surfaces disposed thereberieath` in the operation of the slider. The` outer surface of the front wing portion 22 is particularly adapted fori-the attachment of the cap member 2B which is complernentary therewith and whichforms there- Y-shaped fasi vwith the fastener member guide channel 25, as

shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the lower end of this aperture having its side walls defined bya pair of notches 39 and 3I which limit outward novement of the legs of the locking member I8 in unlocking the slider, as will hereinafter more clearly appear. j

` Adjacent the front end of the aperture 29 is a fiat surface 32 which supports the locking member I8 and which cooperates with Vthe boss 34 in the cap memberv 26 to retain the locking member I8 in operative position. This boss 34 is disposed substantially centrally of the recess or pocket 33 in the cap member 26 and has a part of the semi-cylindrical recess or channel 28 extending therethrough, as shown in 5. Thus, the complementary channels or recesses 21 and V28 form a longitudinal substantially cylindrical bore 21, 28 which receives and supports the manually operable unlocking member I9.v The aperture 29, notches 30 and 3I, surface 32 and recess or pocket 33 likewise form an enclosed pocket which supports and retains the locking member I8 in operative position.

The locking member I8, as shown'in Fig. 43, is of bifurcated form, one leg 36 thereofk being longerA than the other leg 35 thereof a distance equal substantially to the longitudinal width of one interlocking fastener member or, in other words, the pitchA of the fastener. Inwardly offset from the left leg 36 is the left locking projection 38, while a similar offset locking projection 39 is provided at the end of the' right leg 35. Because of the difference in the lengths of the legs 35 and 36 and the consequent location of the projections 38 and 39, both projections are simultaneously engaged in locking position, and simultaneously withdrawnfrom engagement with the legends of the interlocking fastener members rI4 in unlocking the slider.

Intermediate the ends of the legs 35 'and 36, Aa. pair of oppositely directed cam follower memvbers 49 and 4I is provided, which cooperate with the cam surface providedon the locking member I9 to spread the legs 35 and 36 of the locking member I8 upon appropriate movement ofl the unlocking member I9. Y

'Ihe locking member I8 isforrned, of course, of resilient material and is, in effect, a bifurcated spring membervhaving oppositely directedoset locking projections at the ends of its legs, which legs are of unequal length, the

locking projections being constantly urged inv wardly'toward one another by the inherent resiliency of the locking member I8 and being capable of being spread by cooperationof a cam on the manually operable unlocking member with the ignated I 9 is provided either at one or both ends with suitable means such as the loops I9a fav cilitating manual reciprocation thereof either directly or by secondary means, such as the thong I9b. Intermediate its ends the unlocking member I9 is provided with a double-acting cam 42 Vwhich comprises a reduced cylindrical portion is automatically assumed when the locking member I9 is free.

As will be clearly understood, when the locking projections 38 and 39 are thus engagedV between the leg end surfaces of adjacent interlockingv fastener members I4 on the respective'stringers I0, longitudinalmovement of the slider on the stringers is effectively preventedand the slider is locked'.V To unlock the slider, itis merely necessary to pull the unlocking member I9 either upwardly or downwardly with respect to the slider to engage onev of the frusto-conical surfaces of the cam42 withuthe cam follower members 49 andf4I which are thrust apart thereby, whereby the resilient locking member I8 is spread to disengage Vthe locking projections 38 and 39 Yfrom the interlockingfastener"members I4, as

shown in Fig. 6. i

As anv alternative, as. shown in Figs. '1 and 8, a pair of cam follower members 50 and '5I, which are responsive to a rotary cam surface, maybe substituted for the above-described cam follower members 40 and 4I on the interlocking member I8. Likewise, the unlocking member I9 may be providedA with a rotary cam 52 Vadapted to releaseY the cam. follower members 50 and 5I in one or more positions of the rotary unlocking member I9 (Fig. 7) or to engage them in another position Vand thrust them apart to spread the resilient camfollower members 40 and 4I, the cam and.

cam Afollowers operating against the force of the inherent resiliencyv of the locking meme ber I8.'

locking'meinber I8 and free the locking projections 38 and 39 thereof from engagement with the interlocking fastener members stringer I Il of the fastener.

It will thus appear that vsliders constructed according .to this invention embody completely enclosed bifurcated or substantially U-shaped resilient locking members straddling the interlocking fastener members of'fthe fastener stringers of the fastener, the locking members having at their extremities or leg ends, inwardlyl oppositely directed, locking projections normally yieldingly engaged with the leg end surfaces of the interlocking fastener members on thestringers -by reason of the inherent resiliency of the locking member, the locking member being provided with cam follower surfaces engageable with cam surfaces on a manually movable unlocking member which acts throughvthe cam and cam' follower surfaces, upon suitable movement of the unlocking'member, to spread the locking member and release the locking projections from engagement` withV the leg end surfaces of the interlocking fastener members'on the stringers of the fastener.

ing member are responsive to reciprocatory.

The unlocking member which is generally desmovement 0f the lunlocking member; while in the I4 on eachV other case, as shownin Figs. 7 -and 8,` the cam surfaces are rotary cam,` surfaces responsive to rotary movement of the `manually operable unlocking member. i i

It is, of course, to beunderstood that the above limiting and `that I desire to comprehend within myinvention such modifications as are included i 4within the scope of the appended claims.

` i said pocket, and offset` oppositely directed locking projections at the free ends of said locking memberv extending through said aperture into saidchannel andnormally engaging theleg end surfaces of interlocking fastener members in said channel, said` locking member being provided with spaced cam follower surfaces, and a manually operable unlocking member having `a cam i disposed between said cam follower surfaces, and

cooperating with said c'am follower surfaces upon movement ofsaid unlocking member to spread said resilient locking member and withdraw locking projections from engagement with interi locking fastener members in the guide channel j `of said slider body.

2( In a slider for slide fasteners, a slider body comprising a `pair of spaced connected wing members forming` an upwardly divergent fastener member guide channeltherebetween, one of said wing `members having thereinan enclosed'pocket communicating through an aperture with said fastener member guide` channel and a longitudinal unlocking member supporting bore extending into said pocket, a bifurcated resilient locking member supported in said pocket and having offset oppositely directedllocking projections at the free ends thereof..extending `throughsaid aperture into saidv channel` and normally engaging the leg end surfaces of interlocking fastener members in 'said channel, said locking member being provided with spaced cam follower members, and a manually operable unlocking member having a` cam disposed between said cam follower'` members and `cooperating with said cam follower ,surfaces upon reciprocating movement `of said unlocking member to spread said resilient locking member and withdraw said locking projectionsfrom engagement `with interlocking fastener members in the guide channel of said slider body.

, 3. In a slider for slide fasteners, a slider body i comprising a painof spaced connected wing members forming an upwardly divergent fastenera i member guidechannel therebetween, one of said nel, said locking member'beingprovided with `spaced cam follower members, and amanually operable .unlockingmember supported in said ,bore and having a rotary cam disposed between 5 said cam follower members and cooperating with description is merely illustrative and in nowise `said cam follower members upon rotary movei ment of said unlocking member,l to spread the ends ofsaid resilient locking member and withi draw said locking projections from engagement l with interlocking f'astenermembers in the guide channel of saidslider body.

4. Ina slider for slide fasteners, a slider body comprising apair of spaced connected wingmem- 1 bers forming an upwardly divergent fastener l5 member guide channel therebetween, one of said wing members having therein an enclosed locking member receiving pocket communicating through an aperture with `said fastener `member guide `channel `and a longitudinal unlocking member supporting 'bore extending into said pocket, a bifurcated resilient locking member supported in said pocket, said locking member having legs straddling interlocking fastener i members in said channel and having offset oppositely directed locking projections at their ends extending through said aperture into said channel and normally engaging'the leg end surfaces of interlocking fastener members in said channel, said locking member being provided with `:'00 laterally spaced cam follower members, and a manually operable reciprocating unlocking member supported .in said bore and having a double acting reciprocating cam disposed between said cam follower members and cooperating with said cam follower surfaces upon movement of said unlocking member against the inherentrei siliency of said locking member to spread said "resilient locking member and simultaneously to withdraw both said locking projections from en- 0 gagement with interlocking fastener members in the guide channel of said sliderzbogiy.-l A

5. In a slider forslide fasteners, a slider body comprising a pair` of spaced connected wing members forming an upwardly divergent fastener memberguide channel therebetween, one of said wing members having therein `an enclosed pocket communicating through an aperturewithsaid` fastener member guide channel and a longitudinal unlocking member supporting bore ex- 60 tending longitudinally through saispocket, and

` aperture having leg movement limiting grooves at its lower end,` a bifurcated resilient locking `member supported in said pocket and having legs differing in length by one fastener pitch distance and offset oppositely directed locking projections at the free ends of said locking member extending through said aperture into said channel and normally urged by the inherent resiliency of `said locking member into engagement, with the leg end surfaces of interlocking fastener members wing members having therein an enclosed pocket 55 ltween said cam follower members and forcing communicating through an aperture with said i fastener member guide channel and a longitudinalunlocking member supporting bore exl tending into `said pocket, a bifurcated resilient lockingmember `supported insaid pocket and apart said cam follower members upon rotary movement of said unlocking member to spread `said resilient locking member and simultaneously to withdraw both saidlocking projections from 79 engagement with interlocking fastener members in the guide channel of said slider body, the leg movement limiting grooves in said aperture limiting the degreeof spreading of the legs of said locking member.

NOEL J. Poux. 

